Residence Terms

General Conditions of Occupancy

The residence hall license for all residence halls and is binding for the ENTIRE ACADEMIC YEAR (both fall and spring semesters) as a student entering into the Housing License at the beginning of the Fall Semester at SUNY Canton. Note: A student residing in Kennedy Hall must remain in the building for the term of the License (Entire Academic Year). He/she cannot move to a different campus residence hall.

Any change of occupancy must have prior, specific written approval of the Residence Hall Director in charge of the residence hall to which the student or students are officially assigned by the College. Note: Students residing in Kennedy Hallmay only move within Kennedy Hall.

The College reserves the right in all campushousing to:

increase or decrease the designed occupancy of a room at any time to insure maximum utilization of residence hall rooms;

move students within the residence hall system at its discretion for programmatic, financial or disciplinary reasons;

Residence Hall Guest Policy – A guest is anyone other than an authorized resident of the room in which they wish to visit. Students wishing to have guests must follow these guidelines:

The resident student must register his/her guest with the residence hall staff (Residence Hall Director or Resident Assistant) upon the guest’s arrival to the residence hall. Guests may also be pre-registered with the RA or RD, but will have to provide identification to the residence hall staff for review when they arrive.

Students must obtain permission from all roommates in advance of the guest’s arrival. If roommates, at any time, withdraw their permission for the guest to stay in their room, the guest will be asked to leave.

No one under the age of 16 is permitted to be a guest in the residence halls at any time unless they are a registered, full-time student at SUNY Canton.

Students are responsible for their guests at all times. If the guest violates the rules/policies at SUNY Canton, he/she may be asked to leave at any time and the student may be held accountable through the campus judicial system for any code violations.

Guests are limited to a stay of no more than three (3) days/nights per month, and no longer than 48 hours at a time.

Each room is only permitted to have one guest at a time unless special permission is obtained from the Residence Hall Director.

Guests are not permitted during finals exams week.

Guests must carry identification on them at all times during their stay on campus, and must submit this identification for review to staff upon request.

Guests who are not officially registered may be removed at any time from the residence hall and/or campus.

Children under 16 years of age are not permitted in the residence halls unless accompanied by a legal guardian, college employee or a sibling who resides in the residence hall who is at least 18 years old. Under no circumstances is an individual under 16 years of age allowed in the residence halls after 9 p.m. or before 9 a.m., unless they are participating in a college-organized program. An individual must be at least 16 years old and a full-time student to reside in the residence halls.

Residence halls are open only when classes are in session. During vacation periods residents are required to leave the facilities prior to 5:00 p.m. on the last day of classes. Only those students who have received prior permission from the Director of Residence Life will be permitted to stay during vacations. This costs an additional fee of $150 per week (not including international students).

Rooms must be vacated within 24 hours of withdrawal or suspension from the College.

All residents are required to contract and pay for an approved College meal plan unless specifically exempted therefrom.

This License does not automatically renew upon the expiration of the term hereof. If the student is interested in renewing the term of this License upon expiration, the student must pay his/her housing deposit and attend Room Reservation or Housing Lottery in the spring semester. The Office of Residence Life may accept or deny any such renewal request at its sole discretion.

Release from Housing License - In the event that student is no longer registered as a student at the State University of New York at Canton during the term of this License, the student shall use his/her best efforts to find alternative housing as soon as possible. Within 24 hours of the date on which student ceases to be a registered student, student shall notify the Residence Life Office of such cessation and include with such notice documentation from the Registrar’s Office verifying such change in status. Within seven (7) days thereafter, the Office of Residence Life shall determine whether or not it will release the student from any further liability under this License and shall furnish the student with written notification of such determination. If the Office of Residence Life elects to release student from such liability, student shall vacate the Room/Suite within 24 hours of the receipt of the Office of Residence Life’s determination. As long as the student remains within the Room/Suite, the student shall remain responsible for the payment and performance of all License fees and other License obligations.

The Office of Residence Life’s decision to release the student from further liability hereunder shall be within the Office of Residence Life’s sole discretion and may be conditioned, at a minimum, upon any one or all of the following: (a) student moving out of the Room/Suite within 24 hours of receipt of notification of the Office of Residence Life’s determination; (b) Student paying SUNY Canton in full for License fee for any time prior to student moving out of the Room/Suite; and (c) Student reimbursing SUNY Canton for any damage to the Room/Suite or Complex deemed to be the responsibility of student not covered by the Office of Residence Life’s housing deposit. If student has prepaid any of the above amounts, the Office of Residence Life shall reimburse the student for these prepaid amounts less items mentioned in the preceding sentence. If the Office of Residence Life grants the student a release, then the student shall be entitled to a refund based on the college’s refund schedule as stated in the Student Handbook.

Duties, Standards & Obligations

Residents shall be held responsible for and charged with full knowledge of all applicable rules and regulations contained in the current Code of Student Conduct and all Office of Residence Life publications. Students are considered adults and, therefore, are expected to obey all laws and take personal responsibility for their conduct.

The resident agrees to conform to generally accepted standards of decent and considerate behavior, including respect for the privacy of others and the maintenance of an atmosphere conducive to study and harmonious living, in keeping with the function and purpose of each room, lounge or other area of the residence hall.

Quiet hours are in effect from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. on Sunday through Thursday and Midnight to 10:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Morgue hours are in effect from 10:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. on Sunday through Thursday and Midnight to 10:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. A four-hour break occurs from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Morgue hours begin approximately one week prior to final examinations and remain in effect through the end of the semester.

Courtesy hours are in effect 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The goal is to empower residents to take control of the environment in which they sleep, study and live. Residents are expected to cooperate with reasonable requests from other residents and staff members. Doing so will create a more positive atmosphere and will make for a more enjoyable living environment.

The privilege of using alcoholic beverages is governed by State law and College policy as detailed in the Student Handbook. Irresponsible and/or illegal use of alcoholic beverages and/or the resulting inappropriate behavior is strictly prohibited.

Refrigerators of 1.7 cubic feet are permitted in student rooms. Larger refrigerators are also acceptable, AS LONG AS the TOTAL cubic footage of refrigerator(s) in each individual student room does not exceed 3.4 cubic feet. Note: Individual refrigerators are prohibited in Kennedy Hall. Each suite has a full-size refrigerator in its kitchen area.

The resident further agrees to comply with any and all further rules, regulations and directions of residence hall staff which the College may prescribe for the safety, cleanliness and care of each room, lounge or other area in the residence hall, and the furniture, fixtures, furnishings and equipment provided therefore by the College and residence hall as a whole, for the preservation of good order therein; and for the privacy, quiet, comfort and convenience of all occupants of each room and the residence hall as a whole.

All students residing in the residence halls must carry a minimum of 12 credit hours. If a student drops below 12 credits during the academic year, they will be required to move from the residence hall unless approval is given by the Director of Residence Life.

The following are strictly prohibited anywhere in a College residence hall:

the possession, sale or use without a physician’s prescription, of any controlled substance under the laws of the State of New York and College policies as stated in the Student Handbook;

smoking is prohibited in all areas of the residence halls;

gambling;

the possession of any explosive device, dangerous chemical, firearm or weapon, including air guns, BB guns, soft air guns, paintball guns and archery equipment or any weapon in which the propelling force is spring, piston, or CO2 cartridge or any deadly weapon as defined in the New York State Penal Law or any object that can be construed as a dangerous instrument. The College requires that all firearms or weapons brought on campus be surrendered at the University Police Department, where they will be stored. They may be picked up by the owner when they desire to use them off-campus. Handguns are never allowed on campus.

the possession of any dangerous knife designated in the NYS Penal Law (including gravity knives) and, in addition, any sheath knife or butterfly knife or any other knife that can be construed as a dangerous instrument;

the possession of open electrical appliances, air conditioners; ovens or cooking appliances of any type; halogen torchiere floor lamps; tube, coil or string lighting; Note: Students residing in Kennedy Hall can have cooking appliances in their kitchen area that supplement the stove and oven.

the possession of engines, motors and mechanical equipment;

the possession of waterbeds;

the possession or harboring of any birds, cats, dogs, snakes or other pets or animals, except for those approved in advance to live in The Pet Wing;

the throwing of snowballs, Frisbees and footballs in and around residence halls. Sports are not allowed in the residence halls.

the use of water guns and water fights in and around residence halls;

the possession of stereo speakers, subwoofers or amplifiers.

Commercial use and solicitation in any part of a residence hall is strictly and expressly forbidden except as may be specifically authorized by the Director of Residence Life.

Damages – The student/students residing the room or suite is responsible for completing the college’s Room Condition Form when moving in to or out of a suite. This form will be used by the Office of Residence Life to determine damages billable to the student/students. Student is liable for damages in his/her bedroom as well as any common area damages. Students shall make no alteration to the Room/Suite or any of the Amenities of any nature whatsoever without Residence Hall Director prior written consent.

Health and Safety

It is the policy of the State University of New York that all residence halls are smoke free. No smoking will be permitted in any residence hall.

Residents are strongly urged to keep their rooms locked at all times.

Residents are strongly advised to have all of their personal property protected against theft, damage and other loss by appropriate individual or family insurance coverage inasmuch as the State of New York, and the State University of New York College of Technology at Canton carry and provide no such insurance and will not be responsible for any such theft, damage, or other loss.

All residents are urged to participate in the Operation Identification Program of the University Police Department.

Causing a fire alarm, discharging a fire extinguisher, breaking or damaging an exit light, causing a heat or smoke detector to be activated or removing or tampering with any fire or safety equipment, is strictly prohibited, and may result in suspension from the residence halls and/or college.

Each resident is required to familiarize him/herself with and abide by the fire and safety regulations for the residence hall. Fire drills will be held periodically. When a fire alarm sounds, all residents must immediately and completely evacuate the residence hall, and dress appropriately for current outdoor weather conditions. Failure to evacuate will result in disciplinary sanction.

Entry

It is the College’s intention to insure all reasonable privacy in student living quarters. However, in the interest of the health, safety and general welfare of the residence halls, the College reserves the right to enter and inspect student rooms at any reasonable time including but not limited to before all academic recess periods after giving notice of its intention to do so to any occupant or occupants then present.

The College reserves the right to enter a student’s room whenever there is reason to believe that there exists therein a clear and present danger to person or property, or to retrieve residence hall or College property, or to determine compliance with Federal, State, local law and College policies, procedures and rules where there is reasonable cause to believe that a violation has occurred or is occurring.

Occupancy Charges - Payments and Refunds

All students must pay an advance room deposit, which is non-refundable after May 1st, to secure a room assignment.

The entire occupancy charge for each semester is due and payable in the Student Service Center at the same time as the student’s tuition bill for the semester and is subject to the same payment and other conditions as are applicable to the tuition bill.

Occupancy charges are established on the basis of occupancy. If differentials are in effect for other than normal occupancy - for tripled rooms, for example - credit will be given after the second Census Day of each semester.

The date on which all belongings are removed from the room will be the date used to calculate refund(s), if applicable. Upon official withdrawal from the College, refunds are on a percentage basis as follows:

The first day of classes shall be considered the first day of the semester. Seven calendar days later will be deemed the end of the first week for refund purposes.

A resident in Kennedy Hall may only be released from the financial obligations of the two-semester housing license if the space being vacated is refilled by another student. Furthermore, the Director of Residence Life must approve the release and approve the new student to move into Kennedy Hall. If the student is moving from another room in Kennedy Hall then his/her vacated room must also be refilled. If a resident is leaving his/her room during the License period he/she is encouraged to seek out a student from another residence hall or off-campus to fill the space. In the event that the space cannot be filled by another student, the original licensee will be liable for the room rent for the entire two-semester length of the Housing License.

Residence halls are thoroughly inspected prior to student occupancy each semester. Damages which occur during a particular semester will be charged to individual students and/or groups of students.

Residents are issued a college I.D. which also serves as their front door key. There is a $15 charge to replace a lost college I.D.

Each student room is equipped with a telephone jack. Residents who wish may arrange for off-campus telephone service through the Procurement Office in French Hall.

Liability/Indemnification

Licensee agrees to indemnify and to hold harmless Licensor, the State University of New York and Grasse River LLC and any of their respective agents or employees from and against any suit, action or law or other claim whatsoever, resulting from or arising out of (a) the use or occupancy or manner of use or occupancy of the Suite or the Complex by Licensee or any person claiming under Licensee; (b) any activity or thing done or permitted by Licensee in or about the Suite or the Residence Halls; (c) any breach of Licensee of the terms of this License; and (d) any injury or damage to the person or property of Licensee or his or her invitees entering upon the Suite or the Residence Halls. Licensee’s obligations pursuant to this paragraph shall survive the expiration or earlier termination of this License.

None of Licensor, State University of New York or Grasse River LLC. shall be liable to Licensee or any other party for the occurrence of any of the following:

Any failure of water, gas, heat, ventilation, air conditioning, light, power, telephone service or any other utility service supplied to the Suite;

Any injury or damage to persons or property caused by fire, bursting or leaking of water, snow, gas, sewer or steam pipes, the elements or any other unavoidable casualty;

Any injury or damage to persons or property caused by any existing or future condition, defect, matter or thing in or on the Suite or the buildings;

Any act, omission or negligence of any person (other than Licensor, the State University of New York or Grasse River LLC) in or about the Suite or the buildings; and

Any act of theft, burglary, vandalism, assault or other crimes.

None of Licensor, the State University of New York or Grasse River LLC assumes any legal obligation for loss of personal property (including, but not limited to, water damage) if it occurs in the Suite, in the Complex or on the surrounding grounds, whether occurring prior to, during or subsequent to the term of this License.